Body of missing man, Charlie Dowd, reportedly found

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Body of missing man, Charlie Dowd, reportedly found

The family of Charlie Dowd, the missing retired firefighter who went missing last week while on an Amtrak trip from California to Chicago, confirmed Friday night that his body has been found.

According to a statement on their Facebook page, “The Dowd family is saddened to share the news that the body of Charlie Dowd was found [Friday] in Haigler, NE, an area between Fort Morgan, CO and McCook, NE.”

Relatives believed Dowd may have fallen off the train sometime before it got to Chicago last Friday, because when the train arrived, his luggage, medication and phone were still on it.

Dowd was no where to be found.

His family had contacted countless hospitals along the route, including one in Galesburg, Illinois.

“They’re thinking that Charles got off the Amtrak train and then didn’t make it back on the train,” Bryan Plummer, an ER worker in Galesburg told News 8 after speaking with the family this past weekend. “They’re concerned that he’s wandering around an Amtrak depot… and somebody can help find him and bring him home.”

Dowd had been planning to transfer to another Amtrak train in Chicago last Friday and head to Canada to see his son in Montreal.

“The body was spotted by a BNSF railway worker and immediately reported to the authorities,” the family’s post on Facebook Friday went on to read. “While the family is devastated, they would like to express their gratitude for the many prayers, support, and messages posted to the Charlie Dowd Facebook page, and for the efforts of the many volunteers who have helped search for him this past week.

More details are coming soon. Thank you again on behalf of the family for the support of the many agencies, groups, and individuals who have helped the Dowd family during this time. They also ask to refrain from contacting them directly at this time to give them space to grieve and share the news with other family members.”